17. Yajur Veda — Chapter 17

【 Verse 17.1 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अश्म॒न्नूर्जं॒ पर्व॑ते शिश्रिया॒णाम॒द्भ्यऽओष॑धीभ्यो॒ वन॒स्पति॑भ्यो॒ऽअधि॒ सम्भृ॑तं॒ पयः॑। तां न॒ऽइष॒मूर्जं॑ धत्त मरुतः सꣳररा॒णाऽअश्म॑ꣳस्ते॒ क्षुन् मयि॑ त॒ऽऊर्ग्यं॑ द्वि॒ष्मस्तं ते॒ शुगृ॑च्छतु ॥१ ॥

▸ Translation: O Maruts (men and women), kind and generous powers, hold for us the energy and power contained in the mountain ranges of the clouds and the sky, and hold for us that energy and juices distilled from waters, herbs and trees, and bless us with that food and energy. Voracious eater, fire of yajna, may your hunger and energy be in me too, and may your displeasure reach someone we hate (i.e., none).

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【 Verse 17.2 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒मा मे॑ऽअग्न॒ऽइष्ट॑का धे॒नवः॑ स॒न्त्वेका॑ च॒ दश॑ च॒ दश॑ च श॒तं च॑ श॒तं च॑ स॒हस्रं॑ च स॒हस्रं॑ चा॒युतं॑ चा॒युतं॑ च नि॒युतं॑ च नि॒युतं॑ च प्र॒युतं॒ चार्बु॑दं च॒ न्य᳖र्बुदं च समु॒द्रश्च॒ मध्यं॒ चान्त॑श्च परा॒र्द्धश्चै॒ता मे॑ऽअग्न॒ऽइष्ट॑का धे॒नवः॑ सन्त्व॒मु॒त्रा॒मुष्मिँ॑ल्लो॒के ॥२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, fire-lord of yajna, may these bricks of my altar (vedi), wanted values of life, one and all, be generous and productive and grow ten times in geometrical progression : May one grow to ten, and ten to one hundred (shatam), and one hundred to one thousand (sahasram), and one thousand to ten thousand (ayutam), and ten thousand to hundred thousand (one lac, niyutam), and hundred thousand to a million (prayutam), and one million to hundred million (arbudam), and hundred million to a billion (arba, nyarbudam), and one billion to ten billion (one kharba), and ten billion to a hundred billion (one nikharba), and hundred billion to a trillion (mahapadma), and one trillion to ten trillion (one shanku), and ten trillion to hundred trillion (one samudra), and hundred trillion to quadrillion (one madhyam), and one madhyam to ten madhyam (anta, ten quadrillion), and one anta to ten anta (hundred quadrillion), parardha. And these bricks, wanted values, be, like cows, the givers of fulfilment to me in this life and beyond, in this world and beyond.

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【 Verse 17.3 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऋ॒तव॑ स्थऽऋता॒वृध॑ऽऋतु॒ष्ठा स्थ॑ऽऋता॒वृधः॑। घृ॒त॒श्च्युतो॑ मधु॒श्च्युतो॑ वि॒राजो॒ नाम॑ काम॒दुघा॒ऽअक्षी॑यमाणाः ॥३ ॥

▸ Translation: Ladies of the home brilliant as yajna fire, holy as truth and universal law, reflecting the plenty and purity of distilled ghee and overflowing with the sweetness of honey, you are surely treasures of fulfilment beyond decay. Be vibrant as spring, stay inviolable as the cycle of the seasons and add to the sanctity of the laws of life.

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【 Verse 17.4 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स॒मु॒द्रस्य॒ त्वाव॑क॒याग्ने॒ परि॑व्ययामसि। पा॒व॒कोऽअ॒स्मभ्य॑ꣳ शि॒वो भ॑व ॥४ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, brilliant power, we stand round and cover you as the shaivala grass of the sea. Cleanser and purifier of life, be good and gracious to us.

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【 Verse 17.5 】

▸ Veda Mantra: हि॒मस्य॑ त्वा ज॒रायु॒णाग्ने॒ परि॑व्ययामसि। पा॒व॒कोऽअ॒स्मभ्य॑ꣳ शि॒वो भ॑व ॥५ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, brilliant power, we cover you round as fire and clothing round the frosty cold of the season. Come, cleanser and purifier of life, and be kind and gracious to us.

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【 Verse 17.6 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उप॒ ज्मन्नुप॑ वेत॒सेऽव॑तर न॒दीष्वा। अग्ने॑ पि॒त्तम॒पाम॑सि॒ मण्डू॑कि॒ ताभि॒राग॑हि॒ सेमं नो॑ य॒ज्ञं पा॑व॒कव॑र्णꣳ शि॒वं कृ॑धि ॥६ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, clad in the brilliant flames of light, come upon the earth, descend in the midst of the earth’s abundance. Descend into the streams of life. Since you are the life and lustre of the waters, come with that life and lustre. Come and bless this yajna of our home with peace and prosperity.

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【 Verse 17.7 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒पामि॒दं न्यय॑नꣳ समु॒द्रस्य॑ नि॒वेश॑नम्। अ॒न्याँस्ते॑ऽअ॒स्मत्त॑पन्तु हे॒तयः॑ पाव॒कोऽअ॒स्मभ्य॑ꣳ शि॒वो भ॑व ॥७ ॥

▸ Translation: This home is the abode of peace as the sky is the abode of waters. It is an abode of the depth of life as the deep ocean is. May Agni, lord of yajna and life and lustre of the waters be kind and gracious to us in this home of yajna, and may the heat of his passion and displeasure be directed elsewhere away from us.

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【 Verse 17.8 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अग्ने॑ पावक रो॒चिषा॑ म॒न्द्रया॑ देव जि॒ह्वया॑। आ दे॒वान् व॑क्षि॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥८ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, generous lord of light, purifier and sanctifier of life, with your brilliant and exhilarating tongue of flames you call the noble yajnic devotees together and proclaim to them the truths of eternity.

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【 Verse 17.9 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स नः॑ पावक दीदि॒वोऽग्ने दे॒वाँ२ऽइ॒हा व॑ह। उप॑ य॒ज्ञꣳ ह॒विश्च॑ नः ॥९ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, power of light and lustre, purifier and sanctifier of life, you graciously call the noble powers of nature and humanity together here close to our yajna and let us all share the gifts of the fragrance of libations.

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【 Verse 17.10 】

▸ Veda Mantra: पा॒व॒कया॒ यश्चि॒तय॑न्त्या कृ॒पा क्षाम॑न् रुरु॒चऽउ॒षसो॒ न भा॒नुना॑। तूर्व॒न् न याम॒न्नेत॑शस्य॒ नू रण॒ऽआ यो घृ॒णे न त॑तृषा॒णोऽअ॒जरः॑ ॥१० ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and power, commander of the army, with his cleansing, enlightening and splendid force, shines on the earth like the dawn blazing with the light of the sun. And young, unaging, unexhausted, hastening apace on the course of his chariot, thirsting for victory in the heat of the battle, blazes with his own glory.

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【 Verse 17.11 】

▸ Veda Mantra: नम॑स्ते॒ हर॑से शो॒चिषे॒ नम॑स्तेऽअस्त्व॒र्चिषे॑। अ॒न्याँस्ते॑ अ॒स्मत्त॑पन्तु हे॒तयः॑ पाव॒कोऽअ॒स्मभ्य॑ꣳ शि॒वो भ॑व ॥११ ॥

▸ Translation: Salutations to Agni, lord of light and justice, radiant and pure, divine and adorable, and saviour from pain and suffering. Lord sanctifier of life and nature, be good and gracious to us. And may the heat of your passion and punishment for sin and injustice fall upon others far from us, i.e. different from real human nature and character.

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【 Verse 17.12 】

▸ Veda Mantra: नृ॒षदे॒ वेड॑प्सु॒षदे॒ वेड् ब॑र्हि॒षदे॒ वेड् व॑न॒सदे॒ वेट् स्व॒र्विदे॒ वेट् ॥१२ ॥

▸ Translation: Homage to Agni, lord present in and presiding over humanity. Homage to the lord present in and ruling over the waters. Homage to the lord governing within and over the business of society. Homage to the lord present in and ruling over the forests. Homage to the lord creator and giver of the joy of life.

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【 Verse 17.13 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ये दे॒वा दे॒वानां॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑ य॒ज्ञिया॑ना संवत्स॒रीण॒मुप॑ भा॒गमास॑ते। अ॒हु॒तादो॑ ह॒विषो॑ य॒ज्ञेऽअ॒स्मिन्त्स्व॒यं पि॑बन्तु॒ मधु॑नो घृ॒तस्य॑ ॥१३ ॥

▸ Translation: Pranas (Sanyasis, those who are the life-breath of the spirit of society), those who are noblest among the nobles, adorable among those who adore Agni in yajna, serve and receive their part of the annual sessions of yajna, and, free from the performance of yajna before meals, themselves receive and enjoy the honey-sweets and drinks of the libations in this yajna.

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【 Verse 17.14 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ये दे॒वा दे॒वेष्वधि॑ देव॒त्वमाय॒न् ये ब्रह्म॑णः पुरऽए॒तारो॑ऽअ॒स्य। येभ्यो॒ नऽऋ॒ते पव॑ते॒ धाम॒ किञ्च॒न न ते दि॒वो न पृ॑थि॒व्याऽअधि॒ स्नुषु॑ ॥१४ ॥

▸ Translation: Pranas, life-breath of the spirit of humanity, souls who have attained the state of divine grace among the nobles, who walk in the very presence of this Lord of the universe, without whom nowhere in the world anything moves nor is anything sanctified, they are not confined to any particular region of heaven, nor to any particular region of the earth, they are universal, everywhere.

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【 Verse 17.15 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रा॒ण॒दाऽअ॑पान॒दा व्या॑न॒दा व॑र्चो॒दा व॑रिवो॒दाः। अन्याँ॒स्ते॑ऽअ॒स्मत्त॑पन्तु हे॒तयः॑ पाव॒कोऽअ॒स्मभ्य॑ꣳ शि॒वो भ॑व ॥१५ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, Lord of light and power, you are the giver of vital energy, means of the removal of impurity and waste, universal knowledge, lustre of life and the light of truth and Dharma. Be good and gracious to us, lord purifier and sanctifier of life and soul, and let your displeasure and punishment befall somewhere else far away from us.

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【 Verse 17.16 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒ग्निस्ति॒ग्मेन॑ शो॒चिषा॒ यास॒द्विश्वं॒ न्य᳕त्रिण॑म्। अ॒ग्निर्नो॑ वनते र॒यिम् ॥१६ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord giver of light, knowledge and power, with its incessant waves of light and warmth ripens and begets all good nourishing foods for us. The same agni with the power of electric energy begets all the wealth for us. (So may the man of knowledge and scientific power produce food and wealth for humanity.)

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【 Verse 17.17 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यऽइ॒मा विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ जुह्व॒दृषि॒र्होता॒ न्यसी॑दत् पि॒ता नः॑। सऽआ॒शिषा॒ द्रवि॑णमि॒च्छमा॑नः प्रथम॒च्छदव॑राँ॒२ऽआवि॑वेश ॥१७ ॥

▸ Translation: Our father, Vishvakarma, omniscient lord and cosmic sacrificer (yajamana), consumes all these worlds into His own fire of cosmic yajna and remains. And then He, self-moved by His own will to create the profuse variety of existence, projects and pervades the first evolutes and later continues the expansion and self pervasion on and on.

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【 Verse 17.18 】

▸ Veda Mantra: किस्वि॑दासीदधि॒ष्ठान॑मा॒रम्भ॑णं कत॒मत् स्वि॑त् क॒थासी॑त्। यतो॒ भूमिं॑ ज॒नय॑न् वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ वि द्यामौर्णोन्महि॒ना वि॒श्वच॑क्षाः ॥१८ ॥

▸ Translation: What is the ultimate stay of the universe? What is the original cause of the creation? What sort? From which Vishvakarma, omnipresent seer who pervades the universe, created the earth and then heaven with His mighty potential?

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【 Verse 17.19 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒श्वत॑श्चक्षुरु॒त वि॒श्वतो॑मुखो वि॒श्वतो॑बाहुरु॒त वि॒श्वत॑स्पात्। सं बा॒हुभ्यां॒ धम॑ति॒ सं पत॑त्रै॒र्द्यावा॒भूमी॑ ज॒नय॑न् दे॒वऽएकः॑ ॥१९ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma, the one absolute self-effulgent lord of the universe, with universal eye to watch, and universal mouth to reveal the Word, and universal arms for action, and universal feet for omnipresence, having created the heaven and earth from dynamic particles of Prakriti, keeps the universe in constant motion with his mighty arms of omnipotence.

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【 Verse 17.20 】

▸ Veda Mantra: किस्वि॒द्वनं॒ कऽउ॒ स वृ॒क्षऽआ॑स॒ यतो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी नि॑ष्टत॒क्षुः। मनी॑षिणो॒ मन॑सा पृ॒च्छतेदु॒ तद्यद॒ध्यति॑ष्ठ॒द् भुव॑नानि धा॒रय॑न् ॥२० ॥

▸ Translation: What is that original cause, that lovely tree, from which the lord maker shaped the heaven and earth and the whole dynamic world? Men of intelligence and conscientious mind ask the men of wisdom and vision: Who is that lord who holds and sustains the regions of the world and presides over all these and yet remains the sole lord above the universe?

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【 Verse 17.21 】

▸ Veda Mantra: या ते॒ धामा॑नि पर॒माणि॒ याऽव॒मा या म॑ध्य॒मा वि॑श्वकर्मन्नु॒तेमा। शिक्षा॒ सखि॑भ्यो ह॒विषि॑ स्वधावः स्व॒यं य॑जस्व त॒न्वं᳖ वृधा॒नः ॥२१ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma, lord of your own omnipotence, lord of nature, heaven and earth, maker of the universe, enlighten us, your friends and devotees, about the worlds of your own creation, the highest, the lowest and youngest, and the middle ones. Lord of food and energy, expanding the material world of existence, you yourself provide for sustenance with constant inputs into the systemic growth of the universe.

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【 Verse 17.22 】

▸ Veda Mantra: विश्व॑कर्मन् ह॒विषा॑ वावृधा॒नः स्व॒यं य॑जस्व पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम्। मुह्य॑न्त्व॒न्येऽअ॒भितः॑ स॒पत्ना॑ऽइ॒हास्माकं॑ म॒घवा॑ सू॒रिर॑स्तु ॥२२ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma, lord maker of the universe, exalted by the celebration and offerings of yajna, bless the earth and heaven with your presence. May the others, enemies of life and progress all round, fail. And may Indra, lord of power and glory, of wealth and learning, be the harbinger of knowledge and wisdom.

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【 Verse 17.23 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वा॒चस्पतिं॑ वि॒श्वक॑र्माणमू॒तये॑ मनो॒जुवं॒ वाजे॑ऽअ॒द्या हु॑वेम। स नो॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ हव॑नानि जोषद् वि॒श्वश॑म्भू॒रव॑से सा॒धुक॑र्मा ॥२३ ॥

▸ Translation: For our protection and progress in the battle of life to day we invoke Vishvakarma, lord of knowledge and speech, universal master of all karma working at speed faster than that of mind. May he, beneficent lord of unfailing action, kind and generous to all, be pleased to listen to our invocation and grant our prayers for protection and progress.

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【 Verse 17.24 】

▸ Veda Mantra: विश्व॑कर्मन् ह॒विषा॒ वर्द्ध॑नेन त्रा॒तार॒मिन्द्र॑मकृणोरव॒ध्यम्। तस्मै॒ विशः॒ सम॑नमन्त पू॒र्वीर॒यमु॒ग्रो वि॒हव्यो॒ यथास॑त् ॥२४ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma, lord President of the total activity of humanity/the nation, with the growth and advancement arising from the developmental activities of the people working with yajnic dedication in unison, we pray, appoint Indra, a man of power and glory as minister for defence who should be an inviolable defender of the world/the land, so that all the people bow to him in acceptance and reverence and (with that universal support) he becomes mighty and formidable in action.

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【 Verse 17.25 】

▸ Veda Mantra: चक्षु॑षः पि॒ता मन॑सा॒ हि धीरो॑ घृ॒तमे॑नेऽअजन॒न्नम्न॑माने। य॒देदन्ता॒ऽअद॑दृहन्त॒ पूर्व॒ऽआदिद् द्यावा॑पृथि॒वीऽअ॑प्रथेताम् ॥२५ ॥

▸ Translation: When the ruler, Vishvakarma, is of calm and resolute mind, loves and protects men of vision and justice, and promotes the creation of food and wealth, and when the people bow to him in obedience and act in unison like parts of one organism, then only the people and the government strengthen each other and grow like the earth and heaven of yore together.

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【 Verse 17.26 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒श्वक॑र्म्मा॒ विम॑ना॒ऽआद्विहा॑या धा॒ता वि॑धा॒ता प॑र॒मोत स॒न्दृक्। तेषा॑मि॒ष्टानि॒ समि॒षा म॑दन्ति॒ यत्रा॑ सप्तऽऋ॒षीन् प॒रऽएक॑मा॒हुः ॥२६ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma is the one lord maker of the world, sole treasure-home of universal knowledge, present in the universal variety of existence, creator and sustainer of the universe, all-seeing universal presence and supreme reality, whom the wise sages call one and absolute, wherein the humans with their five senses, mind and intelligence rejoice and wherein they realise their supreme ambitions.

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【 Verse 17.27 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यो नः॑ पि॒ता ज॑नि॒ता यो वि॑धा॒ता धामा॑नि॒ वेद॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑। यो दे॒वानां॑ नाम॒धाऽएक॑ऽए॒व तꣳ स॑म्प्र॒श्नं भुव॑ना यन्त्य॒न्या ॥२७ ॥

▸ Translation: Vishvakarma is the lord who is our father and creator, law-giver and sustainer, who knows all the regions of the universe, who is one and absolute yet holds the names of all the powers of nature and His own potential. In Him enter all the worlds, and He is the eternal question and mystery for all the conscientious souls.

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【 Verse 17.28 】

▸ Veda Mantra: तऽआय॑जन्त॒ द्रवि॑ण॒ꣳ सम॑स्मा॒ऽऋष॑यः॒ पूर्वे॑ जरि॒तारो॒ न भू॒ना। अ॒सूर्त्ते॒ सूर्त्ते॒ रज॑सि निष॒त्ते ये भू॒तानि॑ स॒मकृ॒॑ण्वन्नि॒मानि॑ ॥२८ ॥

▸ Translation: They are the Rishis, visionaries of Divinity, who, like celebrants in worship, have offered songs and libations of rich materials to Lord Vishvakarma and who, residing in known as well as in unknown worlds, have directed and attracted the mind and soul of living beings to the lord.

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【 Verse 17.29 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प॒रो दि॒वा प॒रऽए॒ना पृ॑थि॒व्या प॒रो दे॒वेभि॒रसु॑रै॒र्यदस्ति॑। कꣳस्वि॒द् गर्भं॑ प्रथ॒मं द॑ध्र॒ऽआपो॒ यत्र॑ दे॒वाः स॒मप॑श्यन्त॒ पूर्वे॑ ॥२९ ॥

▸ Translation: The Lord Supreme, Brahma, is beyond the heavens, beyond this earth, beyond the gods of nature and beyond the evil and the lifeless. He is the One wherein the life-force bears the first grand and mysterious seed of the universe and whom the primordeal visionaries of divinity see directly as if face to face.

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【 Verse 17.30 】

▸ Veda Mantra: तमिद् गर्भं॑ प्रथ॒मं द॑ध्र॒ऽआपो॒ यत्र॑ दे॒वाः स॒मग॑च्छन्त॒ विश्वे॑। अ॒जस्य॒ नाभा॒वध्येक॒मर्पि॑तं॒ यस्मि॒न् विश्वा॑नि॒ भुव॑नानि त॒स्थुः ॥३० ॥

▸ Translation: Therein surely the life-force bore that first seed of the universe wherein all the powers of nature and the visionary souls find their repose. He is the one sole lord seated at the centre of the mother force, Prakriti, and he is the lord presiding over existence, wherein reside all the worlds of the universe.

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【 Verse 17.31 】

▸ Veda Mantra: न तं वि॑दाथ॒ यऽइ॒मा ज॒जाना॒न्यद्यु॒ष्माक॒मन्त॑रं बभूव। नी॒हा॒रेण॒ प्रावृ॑ता॒ जल्प्या॑ चासु॒तृप॑ऽउक्थ॒शास॑श्चरन्ति ॥३१ ॥

▸ Translation: You don’t know Him who has created all these worlds. He is different and distant from you all, and yet within you all. People sunk in darkness roam around quoting scripture but serving their own selfish ends with empty words void of vision.

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【 Verse 17.32 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ ह्यज॑निष्ट दे॒वऽआदिद् ग॑न्ध॒र्वोऽअ॑भवद् द्वि॒तीयः॑। तृ॒तीयः॑ पि॒ता ज॑नि॒तौष॑धीनाम॒पां गर्भं॒ व्य᳖दधात् पुरु॒त्रा ॥३२ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord Vishvakarma, creator of the world, selfeffulgent lord of light and life, first manifested in existence. Then after that was born the sun which holds the earth. The third was the cloud which, in its womb, holds the waters, offspring of the sky and the winds, vital air, and generates and sustains the herbs and trees in many ways.

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【 Verse 17.33 】

▸ Veda Mantra: आ॒शुः शिशा॑नो वृष॒भो न भी॒मो घ॑नाघ॒नः क्षोभ॑णश्चर्षणी॒नाम्। सं॒क्रन्द॑नोऽनिमि॒षऽए॑कवी॒रः श॒तꣳ सेना॑ऽअजयत् सा॒कमिन्द्रः॑ ॥३३ ॥

▸ Translation: He alone is Indra, worthy to be commander of the army, who is swift and instant in action and wields blazing deadly weapons in readiness, who roars with strength like a bull and strikes fear, terror and panic in the enemy force, who is constantly watchful and a fearless challenger, who is a matchless hero, rallies the force at the call and with us comes out victorious over a hundred armies of the enemy.

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【 Verse 17.34 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सं॒क्रन्द॑नेनानिमि॒षेण॑ जि॒ष्णुना॑ युत्का॒रेण॑ दुश्च्यव॒नेन धृ॒ष्णुना॑। तदिन्द्रे॑ण जयत॒ तत्स॑हध्वं॒ युधो॑ नर॒ इषु॑हस्तेन॒ वृष्णा॑ ॥३४ ॥

▸ Translation: Ye men of war, challenge, engage and defeat that enemy force and be victorious with that commander, Indra, bold and daring, alert and watchful, thirsting for victory, master of tactical deployment and engagement of forces, informidable, fully armed and overwhelming the enemy with a rain of arrows/bullets/missiles.

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【 Verse 17.35 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सऽइषु॑हस्तैः॒ स नि॑ष॒ङ्गिभि॑र्व॒शी सꣳस्र॑ष्टा॒ स युध॒ऽइन्द्रो॑ ग॒णेन॑। स॒ꣳसृ॒ष्ट॒जित् सो॑म॒पा बा॑हुश॒र्ध्युग्र᳕ध॑न्वा॒ प्रति॑हिताभि॒रस्ता॑ ॥३५ ॥

▸ Translation: That warrior, router of the enemy, Indra, selfcontrolled, lover of exhilarating soma and defender of peace, creator and commander of the army, strong of arm, wielder of mighty weapons and awful marksman, supported by his well-selected and well-deployed army highly equipped with arms and armaments, defeats the collective forces of the enemies.

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【 Verse 17.36 】

▸ Veda Mantra: बृह॑स्पते॒ परि॑ दीया॒ रथे॑न रक्षो॒हामित्राँ॑२ऽ अप॒बाध॑मानः। प्र॒भ॒ञ्जन्त्सेनाः॑ प्रमृ॒णो यु॒धा जय॑न्न॒स्माक॑मेद्ध्यवि॒ता र॒था॑नाम् ॥३६ ॥

▸ Translation: Brihaspati, commander of the mighty army, destroyer of the wicked, repulsing the enemy, routing his force and causing havoc all round by your chariot, you come out victorious over the violent and the evil in the battle. Be the protector and defender of our chariots and the wheels of the nation’s economy.

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【 Verse 17.37 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ब॒ल॒वि॒ज्ञा॒यः स्थवि॑रः॒ प्रवी॑रः॒ सह॑स्वान् वा॒जी सह॑मानऽउ॒ग्रः। अ॒भिवी॑रोऽअ॒भिस॑त्वा सहो॒जा जैत्र॑मिन्द्र॒ रथ॒माति॑ष्ठ गो॒वित् ॥३७ ॥

▸ Translation: Indra, expert of army management, veteran tactician, admirable soldier, steadfast and resolute fighter, man of patience and endurance, mighty and victorious, fast and terrible, hero of heroes, admiration of the great and intelligent, lustrous and powerful, honoured by the victorious, master of effective communication and reconnaissance of territory, take to your chariot and ride across the earth, over the seas and into the skies.

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【 Verse 17.38 】

▸ Veda Mantra: गो॒त्र॒भिदं॑ गो॒विदं॒ वज्र॑बाहुं॒ जय॑न्त॒मज्म॑ प्रमृ॒णन्त॒मोज॑सा। इ॒मꣳ स॑जाता॒ऽअनु॑ वीरयध्व॒मिन्द्र॑ꣳ सखायो॒ऽअनु॒ सꣳर॑भध्वम् ॥३८ ॥

▸ Translation: Friends, countrymen, children of mother earth, with all your might and main, follow this Indra, commander of the army, hand in hand. Join him in battle and display your valour and heroism with him who is a master of tactical code of signals and reconnaissance of enemy territory, wields the thunderbolt in hand, breaks through the enemy lines, routs the forces, destroys the enemy and wins the battle.

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【 Verse 17.39 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒भि गो॒त्राणि॒ सह॑सा॒ गाह॑मानोऽद॒यो वी॒रः श॒तम॑न्यु॒रिन्द्रः॑। दु॒श्च्य॒व॒नः पृ॑तना॒षाड॑यु॒ध्यो᳕ऽअ॒स्माक॒ꣳ सेना॑ अवतु॒ प्र यु॒त्सु ॥३९ ॥

▸ Translation: Indra, valiant commander, relentless warrior of a hundred fold righteous ardour, penetrating deep into enemy defences with his strength of armour, irresistible, invincible, victor of enemy forces, may direct and defend our army and lead it to victory.

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【 Verse 17.40 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इन्द्र॑ऽआसां ने॒ता बृह॒स्पति॒र्दक्षि॑णा य॒ज्ञः पु॒रऽए॑तु॒ सोमः॑। दे॒व॒से॒नाना॑मभिभञ्जती॒नां जय॑न्तीनां म॒रुतो॑ य॒न्त्वग्र॑म् ॥४० ॥

▸ Translation: The commander of those noble and enlightened armies which break down and conquer the forces of evil in life is Indra, a man of power and grandeur; he is Brihaspati, a man of grandeur, knowledge and magnanimity; he is Soma, the man of magnanimity, peace and joy; he is the candid expert on the right side of the nation; he is the clarion call for unity and progress, and he is the first among all to take the lead in advance in a crisis. At his call the Maruts, commandos of the first order, must storm the citadel of the enemy.

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【 Verse 17.41 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वृष्णो॒ व॑रुणस्य॒ राज्ञ॑ऽआदि॒त्यानां॑ म॒रुता॒ शर्द्ध॑ऽउ॒ग्रम्। म॒हाम॑नसां भुवनच्य॒वानां॒ घोषो॑ दे॒वानां॒ जय॑ता॒मुद॑स्थात् ॥४१ ॥

▸ Translation: The battle cry of the bold and fierce army consisting of brilliant, stormy, magnanimous, noble and victorious soldiers of the powerful, virile and celebrated ruler should rise high to the sky shaking the enemy with fright.

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【 Verse 17.42 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उद्ध॑र्षय मघव॒न्नायु॑धा॒न्युत्सत्व॑नां माम॒कानां॒ मना॑सि। उद् वृ॑त्रहन् वा॒जिनां॒ वाजि॑ना॒न्युद्रथा॑नां॒ जय॑तां यन्तु॒ घोषाः॑ ॥४२ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord of power and glory, destroyer of the darkest enemy clouds, refine and sharpen the arms and armaments of our forces, boost the morale of our soldiers, accelerate the speed and raise the fire power of our horses and rockets, and let the roar of our victorious tanks and chariots rise to the skies and rend the clouds.

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【 Verse 17.43 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒स्माक॒मिन्द्रः॒ समृ॑तेषु ध्व॒जेष्व॒स्माकं॒ याऽइष॑व॒स्ता ज॑यन्तु। अ॒स्माकं॑ वी॒राऽउत्त॑रे भवन्त्व॒स्माँ२ऽउ॑ देवाऽअवता॒ हवे॑षु ॥४३ ॥

▸ Translation: When the flags fly high and the battle rages, may our leader and commander, Indra, and our arms and arrows be victorious. May our valiant warriors win and live happy ever after. May the noble scholars and sages and the warriors and tacticians protect us through the challenges and battles of life and life’s values.

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【 Verse 17.44 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒मीषां॑ चि॒त्तं प्र॑तिलो॒भय॑न्ती गृहा॒णाङ्गा॑न्यप्वे॒ परे॑हि। अ॒भि प्रेहि॒ निर्द॑ह हृ॒त्सु शोकै॑र॒न्धेना॒मित्रा॒स्तम॑सा सचन्ताम् ॥४४ ॥

▸ Translation: Valiant women’s corps, dazzling and bewildering the mind of those enemies, engage their troops in action and overthrow them far. Advancing deep into their ranks, burn them at heart and afflict them so that they may regret and lie low covered with darkness and sorrow.

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【 Verse 17.45 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अव॑सृष्टा॒ परा॑ पत॒ शर॑व्ये॒ ब्रह्म॑सꣳशिते। गच्छा॒मित्रा॒न् प्र प॑द्यस्व॒ मामीषां॒ कञ्च॒नोच्छि॑षः ॥४५ ॥

▸ Translation: Valiant women’s corps, trained by the military experts of the Vedas, commanded and exhorted by the leader, shooting like an arrow, go far and fall upon the enemies. Go deep and take them all, do not spare any one of them.

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【 Verse 17.46 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रेता॒ जय॑ता नर॒ऽइन्द्रो॑ वः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु। उ॒ग्रा वः॑ सन्तु बा॒हवो॑ऽनाधृ॒ष्या यथास॑थ ॥४६ ॥

▸ Translation: Valiant warriors, go, advance and win. May Indra grant you victory and joy. May your arms be strong and bold so that no one may be able to challenge you and you remain free and invincible.

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【 Verse 17.47 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒सौ या सेना॑ मरुतः॒ परे॑षाम॒भ्यैति॑ न॒ऽओज॑सा॒ स्पर्द्ध॑माना। तां गू॑हत॒ तम॒साप॑व्रतेन॒ यथा॒मीऽअ॒न्योऽअ॒न्यन्न जा॒नन् ॥४७ ॥

▸ Translation: Warriors, intelligent, bold and fierce, yonder is that army of the others, rivals, which marches upon us out of jealousy to surround and overcome us with all their might. Cover that with repellent smoke in utter darkness so that they may fail even to perceive each other.

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【 Verse 17.48 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यत्र॑ बा॒णाः स॒म्पत॑न्ति कुमा॒रा वि॑शि॒खाऽइ॑व। तन्न॒ऽइन्द्रो॒ बृह॒स्पति॒रदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु वि॒श्वाहा॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु ॥४८ ॥

▸ Translation: Where the arrows strike all round and young soldiers fall like children shorn of hair at play, there Indra, lord of power and glory, and Brihaspati, lord of this great world, and the Great Council of Mother Earth itself may grant us peace. May they grant us peace and well-being for all time.

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【 Verse 17.49 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मर्मा॑णि ते॒ वर्म॑णा छादयामि॒ सोम॑स्त्वा॒ राजा॒मृते॒नानु॑ वस्ताम्। उ॒रोर्वरी॑यो॒ वरु॑णस्ते कृणोतु॒ जय॑न्तं॒ त्वानु॑ दे॒वा म॑दन्तु ॥४९ ॥

▸ Translation: Noble warrior, victorious hero, I cover your vital limbs with a protective armour. May Soma, lord of health and well-being, ruler of all, wrap you round in happiness and immortality. May Varuna, lord supreme, grant you honour greater than greatness itself. May all the noble powers of the earth bless you with joy, victorious one.

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【 Verse 17.50 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उदे॑नमुत्त॒रां न॒याग्ने॑ घृतेनाहुत। रा॒यस्पोषे॑ण॒ सꣳसृ॑ज प्र॒जया॑ च ब॒हुं कृ॑धि ॥५० ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of life and progress, invoked and worshipped with libations of ghee and fragrant materials, take this yajamana, ruler, victor, to higher and higher states of honour and glory. Bless him with the wealth of life and good health. Let him rise and grow with a good family and noble children.

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【 Verse 17.51 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इन्द्रे॒मं प्र॑त॒रां न॑य सजा॒ताना॑मसद्व॒शी। समे॑नं॒ वर्चसा सृज दे॒वानां॑ भाग॒दाऽअ॑सत् ॥५१ ॥

▸ Translation: Indra, lord of power and glory, take this warrior victor to that high state of ethics and policy whereby he may rise to organise, control and rule over his fellow citizens, children of the mother land. Bless him with the light and lustre of life and learning so that he is able to do his duty to the noble people, powers of nature and God.

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【 Verse 17.52 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यस्य॑ कु॒र्मो गृ॒हे ह॒विस्तम॑ग्ने वर्द्धया॒ त्वम्। तस्मै॑ दे॒वाऽअधि॑ब्रुवन्न॒यं च॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ ॥५२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and learning, lead the man in whose home we perform the yajna to the high road of progress and prosperity. Let the noblest people speak high of him and to him. And so may this scholar of the Vedas speak to him and about him.

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【 Verse 17.53 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उदु॑ त्वा॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वाऽअग्ने॒ भर॑न्तु॒ चित्ति॑भिः। स नो॑ भव शि॒वस्त्वꣳ सु॒प्रती॑को वि॒भाव॑सुः ॥५३ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of power and glory, may all the noble people of the land with their heart and soul accept, approve, support and raise you to the heights. And you too, so high and noble, a very image of nobility and magnanimity, be good and kind to us.

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【 Verse 17.54 】

▸ Veda Mantra: पञ्च॒ दिशो॒ दैवी॑र्य॒ज्ञम॑वन्तु दे॒वीरपाम॑तिं दुर्म॒तिं बाध॑मानाः। रा॒यस्पो॑षे य॒ज्ञप॑तिमा॒भज॑न्ती रा॒यस्पोषे॒ऽअधि॑ य॒ज्ञोऽअ॑स्थात् ॥५४ ॥

▸ Translation: May all the five directions of space replete with the celestial generosity of nature protect and promote yajna. May the intelligent and pious women, brahmacharinis and wives of saints and scholars, preventing and dispelling ignorance and evil genius, supporting and serving the yajnapati in the growth of health and wealth, protect and promote yajna in the household. May the yajna and the household be established in good health, wealth and progress in well-being.

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【 Verse 17.55 】

▸ Veda Mantra: समि॑द्धेऽअ॒ग्नावधि॑ मामहा॒नऽउ॒क्थप॑त्र॒ऽईड्यो॑ गृभी॒तः। त॒प्तं घ॒र्म्मं प॑रि॒गृह्या॑यजन्तो॒र्जा यद्य॒ज्ञमय॑जन्त दे॒वाः ॥५५ ॥

▸ Translation: That yajna, adorable, praiseworthy, flying high on the wings of Vaidic verses, accepted and honoured of yore, which the ancient sages performed with libations of boiled ghee into the flaming fire, that same yajna, noble people, you also accept and perform with the same devotion and enthusiasm.

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【 Verse 17.56 】

▸ Veda Mantra: दैव्या॑य ध॒र्त्रे जोष्ट्रे॑ देव॒श्रीः श्रीम॑नाः श॒तप॑याः। प॒रि॒गृह्य॑ दे॒वा य॒ज्ञमा॑यन् दे॒वा दे॒वेभ्यो॑ऽअध्व॒र्यन्तो॑ऽअस्थुः ॥५६ ॥

▸ Translation: Noble people sit with the noble people round the fire, performing yajna for the noble people in honour of the divine powers. Let the noble people take to the noble yajamana, a man endowed with wealth of virtue, generosity of heart and plenty of sumptuous food and drink, and let them perform the yajna in honour of the heavenly lord, sustainer of the world and loving father of his children.

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【 Verse 17.57 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वी॒तꣳ ह॒विः श॑मि॒तꣳ श॑मि॒ता य॒जध्यै॑ तु॒रीयो॑ य॒ज्ञो यत्र॑ ह॒व्यमेति॑। ततो॑ वा॒काऽआ॒शिषो॑ नो जुषन्ताम् ॥५७ ॥

▸ Translation: The dynamic and blissful libations of fragrant materials, offered by the peace-loving yajamana into the yajna fire for the highest yajna of the fourth (turiya) order where the libations ultimately reach, from there the Vaidic voices and the blessings of yajna come and reach us.

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【 Verse 17.58 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सूर्य॑रश्मि॒र्हरि॑केशः पु॒रस्ता॑त् सवि॒ता ज्योति॒रुद॑याँ॒२ऽअज॑स्रम्। तस्य॑ पू॒षा प्र॑स॒वे या॑ति वि॒द्वान्त्स॒म्पश्य॒न् विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि गो॒पाः ॥५८ ॥

▸ Translation: Savita, lord creator, clothed in sun-rays, radiating the golden-green emanations (waves) of light is the light that arose at the dawn of creation. Lord omniscient, protector and sustainer, He goes on and on watching the worlds of existence. In His creation, the man of science too goes on watching and watching, collecting the endless light of knowledge about the worlds of the universe.

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【 Verse 17.59 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒मान॑ऽए॒ष दि॒वो मध्य॑ऽआस्तऽआपप्रि॒वान् रोद॑सीऽअ॒न्तरि॑क्षम्। स वि॒श्वाची॑र॒भिच॑ष्टे घृ॒ताची॑रन्त॒रा पूर्व॒मप॑रं च के॒तुम् ॥५९ ॥

▸ Translation: This sun, traversing like a divine car, remains in the midst of the regions of light and illuminates the heaven, the earth and the sky. It is the sustainer of the world, source treasure of waters, and watches and illuminates before, after and in-between (past, present and future).

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【 Verse 17.60 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उ॒क्षा स॑मु॒द्रोऽअ॑रु॒णः सु॑प॒र्णः पूर्व॑स्य॒ योनिं॑ पि॒तुरावि॑वेश। मध्ये॑ दि॒वो निहि॑तः॒ पृश्नि॒रश्मा॒ वि च॑क्रमे॒ रज॑सस्पा॒त्यन्तौ॑ ॥६० ॥

▸ Translation: The sun, seminal fertilizer of life, ocean of spatial waters, scarlet red at dawn, lord of manifold splendour, illuminator of the firmament, sustained in the midst of heaven, travels in space sustaining and binding the ends of the spheres and moving towards the womb of its original mother, eternal energy, from whence it came into being.

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【 Verse 17.61 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इन्द्रं॒ विश्वा॑ऽअवीवृधन्त्समु॒द्रव्य॑चसं॒ गिरः॑। र॒थी॒त॑मꣳ र॒थीनां॒ वाजा॑ना॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ पति॑म् ॥६१ ॥

▸ Translation: Wider than oceans of space, supreme over the commanding and blissful powers of existence, lord sustainer of the universal energies and nourishments, lord ordainer of the truth and reality of the world and Himself the supreme reality, all the voices of nature, humanity and divinity celebrate the only one omnipotent sovereign power, Indra.

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【 Verse 17.62 】

▸ Veda Mantra: दे॒व॒हूर्य॒ज्ञऽआ च॑ वक्षत् सुम्न॒हूर्य॒ज्ञऽआ च॑ वक्षत्। यक्ष॑द॒ग्निर्दे॒वो दे॒वाँ२ऽआ च॑ वक्षत् ॥६२ ॥

▸ Translation: Yajna is the divine power which calls forth the noblest powers and people to the congregation. May it raise the voice of truth and give us the divine message and save us from untruth. Yajna stimulates life with pleasure and well-being. May it inspire us with pleasure and well-being. The fire of yajna and the lord of light feeds the powers of nature. May it augment and enrich the treasures of the environment and bless us with the same divine gifts.

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【 Verse 17.63 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वाज॑स्य मा प्रस॒वऽउ॑द्ग्रा॒भेणोद॑ग्रभीत्। अधा॑ स॒पत्ना॒निन्द्रो॑ मे निग्रा॒भेणाध॑राँ२ऽअकः ॥६३ ॥

▸ Translation: May Indra, lord creator of nourishment and energy and giver of knowledge, elevate me to the heights of virtue with inspiration and ambition. And may he, for me, devalue the negative forces of jealousy and enmity with depression to the lowest depths towards elimination.

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【 Verse 17.64 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उ॒द्ग्रा॒भं च॑ निग्रा॒भं च॒ ब्रह्म॑ दे॒वाऽअ॑वीवृधन्। अधा॑ स॒पत्ना॑निन्द्रा॒ग्नी मे॑ विषू॒चीना॒न् व्य᳖स्यताम् ॥६४ ॥

▸ Translation: May the powers of life strengthen and expand our capacity to rise high, and our capability to resist depression toward the fall. And may Indra, divine power, and Agni, divine light, throw out far off our dispersive tendencies and our jealousies and enmities.

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【 Verse 17.65 】

▸ Veda Mantra: क्रम॑ध्वम॒ग्निना॒ नाक॒मुख्य॒ꣳ हस्ते॑षु॒ बिभ्र॑तः। दि॒वस्पृ॒ष्ठ स्व॑र्ग॒त्वा मि॒श्रा दे॒वेभि॑राध्वम् ॥६५ ॥

▸ Translation: By virtue of Agni, lord of knowledge, light and energy, act and rise to the heights of joy, holding the gifts of yajna in your hands. In the company of the noblest people, favoured by the generous powers of nature, reach the heavens of bliss and establish yourselves in the regions of light.

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【 Verse 17.66 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्राची॒मनु॑ प्र॒दिशं॒ प्रेहि॑ वि॒द्वान॒ग्नेर॑ग्ने पु॒रोऽअ॑ग्निर्भवे॒ह। विश्वा॒ऽआशा॒ दीद्या॑नो॒ वि भा॒ह्यूर्जं॑ नो धेहि द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे ॥६६ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, man of knowledge and power, go ahead and move eastward to the rising sun. In front of Agni, lord of light and power, be agni yourself, a brilliant man of the front rank here and now. Shine, and around yourself illuminate the environment and create food and energy for our fellow humans and our animals.

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【 Verse 17.67 】

▸ Veda Mantra: पृ॒थि॒व्याऽअ॒हमुद॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒मारु॑हम॒न्तरि॑क्षा॒द् दिव॒मारु॑हम्। दि॒वो नाक॑स्य पृ॒ष्ठात् स्व᳖र्ज्योति॑रगाम॒हम् ॥६७ ॥

▸ Translation: With the knowledge of science and the discipline of yoga) I rise from the earth to the skies. From the skies, I rise to the regions of light, the sun. From the regions of the sun, lord of life and joy, I rise to the heavens, the regions of eternal bliss and light divine.

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【 Verse 17.68 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स्व॒र्यन्तो॒ नापे॑क्षन्त॒ऽआ द्या रो॑हन्ति॒ रोद॑सी। य॒ज्ञं ये वि॒श्वतो॑धार॒ꣳ सुवि॑द्वासो वितेनि॒रे ॥६८ ॥

▸ Translation: Those virtuous men of knowledge who perform yajna and expand it, yajna which sustains the whole world, they expect nothing of the material world and, through yoga, rise above the earth and heaven and ascend to the regions of bliss and light divine.

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【 Verse 17.69 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अग्ने॒ प्रेहि॑ प्रथ॒मो दे॑वय॒तां चक्षु॑र्दे॒वाना॑मु॒त मर्त्या॑नाम्। इय॑क्षमाणा॒ भृगु॑भिः स॒जोषाः॒ स्व᳖र्य्यन्तु॒ यज॑मानाः स्व॒स्ति ॥६९ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, man of knowledge and yajna, you are the first among men on way to godliness. You are the eye for the average humans as you have the vision of the men of divinity. May the people of faith and love full of devotion dedicated to yajna and performing yajna with men of knowledge and vision of divinity enjoy peace and happiness and ascend to the heaven of bliss and life divine.

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【 Verse 17.70 】

▸ Veda Mantra: नक्तो॒षासा॒ सम॑नसा॒ विरू॑पे धा॒पये॑ते॒ शिशु॒मेक॑ꣳ समी॒ची। द्यावा॒क्षामा॑ रु॒क्मोऽअ॒न्तर्विभा॑ति दे॒वाऽअ॒ग्निं॑ धा॑रयन् द्रविणो॒दाः ॥७० ॥

▸ Translation: Just as the mother and the nurse, different of character and status but of equal mind and common purpose, nurse one baby, so do the night and dawn, different in form as darkness and light but harmonious and equal of purpose, nurse one new born, the sun, Agni. The brilliant sun blazes between the earth and heaven as the source of light and symbol of cosmic yajna. Dedicated people who offer libations of holy materials sustain the yajna fire in honour of cosmic Agni for light and nourishment.

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【 Verse 17.71 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अग्ने॑ सहस्राक्ष शतमूर्द्धञ्छ॒तं ते॑ प्रा॒णाः स॒हस्रं॑ व्या॒नाः। त्वꣳ सा॑ह॒स्रस्य॑ रा॒यऽई॑शिषे॒ तस्मै॑ ते विधेम॒ वाजा॑य॒ स्वाहा॑ ॥७१ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of a thousand eyes and hundred heads, hundred fold are your pranic energies of life, thousandfold are your energies of action and volition in living beings and in nature. Thousand-fold is the wealth of the world you create and govern. To this generous lord of life and energy we offer our homage with libations into the fire with total dedication, without reservation.

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【 Verse 17.72 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सु॒प॒र्णो᳖ऽसि ग॒रुत्मा॑न् पृ॒ष्ठे पृ॑थि॒व्याः सी॑द। भा॒सान्तरि॑क्ष॒मापृ॑ण॒ ज्योति॑षा॒ दिव॒मुत्त॑भान॒ तेज॑सा॒ दिश॒ऽउद्दृ॑ꣳह ॥७२ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and life, magnanimous of nature, settle on the face of the earth and bless it with life. Fill the sky with light. Illuminate the heaven with light and glory. Enrich the directions of space with life and splendour.

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【 Verse 17.73 】

▸ Veda Mantra: आ॒जुह्वा॑नः सु॒प्रती॑कः पु॒रस्ता॒दग्ने॒ स्वं योनि॒मासी॑द साधु॒या। अ॒स्मिन्त्स॒धस्थे॒ऽअध्युत्त॑रस्मि॒न् विश्वे॑ देवा॒ यज॑मानश्च सीदत ॥७३ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and life, invoked and invited in yajna, splendid and gracious in form, come and settle in your own seat in front, in the east. The yajamana and all the noble souls may sit and grace this home now as well as later. May Agni shower divine grace upon us, the yajamana, and all the noble souls in this life and hereafter.

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【 Verse 17.74 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ता स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यस्य चि॒त्रामाहं वृ॑णे सुम॒तिं वि॒श्वज॑न्याम्। याम॑स्य॒ कण्वो॒ अदु॑ह॒त् प्रपी॑ना स॒हस्र॑धारां॒ पय॑सा म॒हीं गाम् ॥७४ ॥

▸ Translation: I dedicate myself to this chosen Lord Savita’s rich, generous and wonderful divine intelligence which gives a thousand showers of universal knowledge and which the man of vision distils from the mother knowledge of the Vedas just like milk from the great mother cow.

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【 Verse 17.75 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वि॒धेम॑ ते पर॒मे जन्म॑न्नग्ने वि॒धेम॒ स्तोमै॒रव॑रे स॒धस्थे॑।

यस्मा॒द् योने॑रु॒दारि॑था॒ यजे॒ तं प्र त्वे ह॒वीषि॑ जुहुरे॒ समि॑द्धे ॥७५ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, supreme of manifestation in the highest region of existence, we honour and worship you. In this world, in this home, this side of that supreme region we celebrate and worship you. The place you emerge from, and the state whence you arise, we sanctify and love to join. And when you are ablaze in flames of glory, we offer fragrant libations in honour and homage to you.

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【 Verse 17.76 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रेद्धो॑ऽअग्ने दीदिहि पु॒रो नोऽज॑स्रया सू॒र्म्या᳖ यविष्ठ। त्वा शश्व॑न्त॒ऽउप॑यन्ति॒ वाजाः॑ ॥७६ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, brilliant and most youthful power, arise in flames and blaze with incessant waves of light right in front of us. And may a perpetual line of worshipful devotees and a continuous flow of fragrant food come to you in homage.

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【 Verse 17.77 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अग्ने॒ तम॒द्याश्व॒न्न स्तोमैः॒ क्रतु॒न्न भ॒द्रꣳ हृ॑दि॒स्पृश॑म्। ऋ॒ध्यामा॑ त॒ऽओहैः॑ ॥७७ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, like a beautiful horse, like a darling ambition nursed in the heart, like a blissful yajna sustained with holy chants, we celebrate you in the fire and perpetuate you with homage, and we pray we too may advance in life and virtue.

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【 Verse 17.78 】

▸ Veda Mantra: चित्तिं॑ जुहोमि॒ मन॑सा घृ॒तेन॒ यथा॑ दे॒वाऽइ॒हागम॑न् वी॒तिहो॑त्राऽऋता॒वृधः॑। पत्ये॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भूम॑नो जु॒होमि॑ वि॒श्वक॑र्मणे वि॒श्वाहादा॑भ्यꣳ ह॒विः ॥७८ ॥

▸ Translation: With concentrated mind and thought I offer homage to Agni with libations in the fire, so that the noblest people, lovers of yajna and promoters of truth, come here (and join in homage for advancement. And in company) every day I offer sacred and intrepidable libations of havi to Vishvakarma, lord maker and sustainer of the great good universe.

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【 Verse 17.79 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स॒प्त ते॑ऽअग्ने स॒मिधः॑ स॒प्त जि॒ह्वाः स॒प्तऽऋष॑यः स॒प्त धाम॑ प्रि॒याणि॑। स॒प्त होत्राः॑ सप्त॒धा त्वा॑ यजन्ति स॒प्त योनी॒रापृ॑णस्व घृ॒तेन॒ स्वाहा॑ ॥७९ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, seven are the samidhas (sticks of sacred fuel) whereby you rise and shine. Seven are your tongues of flame whereby you devour the food. Seven are the Rishis, visionaries of knowledge and piety who invoke you for homage. Seven are your darling places, contexts, wherein you love to shine and play. Seven are the priests who seven-ways do homage and seven-fold extend your blessings. Seven are the places, vedis, where from you manifest and grow. Fill all these places with ghee and your blessings, grow and prosper and let us too grow and prosper. This is the divine voice.

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【 Verse 17.80 】

▸ Veda Mantra: शु॒क्रज्यो॑तिश्च चि॒त्रज्यो॑तिश्च स॒त्यज्योति॑श्च॒ ज्योति॑ष्माँश्च। शु॒क्रश्च॑ऽऋत॒पाश्चात्य॑ꣳहाः ॥८० ॥

▸ Translation: Lord of pure light, and lord of wondrous light, and lord of the light of truth, and lord of light and the lord light itself, lord pure and immaculate, and the lord protector of truth, the Law and the cosmic yajna of existence and the lord sinless of infinite virtue is He. (May the Maruts, heroes of the speed of lightning, grace our yajna).

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【 Verse 17.81 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ई॒दृङ् चा॑न्या॒दृङ् च॑ स॒दृङ् च॒ प्रति॑सदृङ् च। मि॒तश्च॒ सम्मि॑तश्च॒ सभ॑राः ॥८१ ॥

▸ Translation: Men of single vision, men of others’ (objective) vision, men of comprehensive vision, men of discreet vision, men of measure, men measured around by all, and men who support and sustain all — they are the men, they are the Maruts who succeed at top speed.

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【 Verse 17.82 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऋ॒तश्च॑ स॒त्यश्च॑ ध्रु॒वश्च॑ ध॒रुण॑श्च। ध॒र्त्ता च॑ विध॒र्त्ता च॑ विधार॒यः ॥८२ ॥

▸ Translation: The man of the knowledge of truth and law, the man of reality dedicated to truth, the man stable and steadfast, the man support-column of the stable and steadfast, the man who bears and forbears, the man who bears and forbears the variety of reality, and the man of versatility who faces all and bears all in a variety of ways — this man is one of the Maruts who move at top speed.

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【 Verse 17.83 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऋ॒त॒जिच्च॑ सत्य॒जिच्च॑ सेन॒जिच्च॑ सु॒षेण॑श्च। अन्ति॑मित्रश्च दू॒रेऽअ॑मित्रश्च ग॒णः ॥८३ ॥

▸ Translation: The man master of the Law and reality, master of the truth of reality, master of his forces, the man with close friends around and the man whose enemies are few and far — this is the man, one of the Maruts, who wins at top speed, with his comrades.

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【 Verse 17.84 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ई॒दृक्षा॑सऽएता॒दृक्षा॑सऽऊ॒ षु णः॑ स॒दृक्षा॑सः॒ प्रति॑सदृक्षास॒ऽएत॑न। मि॒तास॑श्च॒ सम्मि॑तासो नोऽअ॒द्य सभ॑रसो मरुतो य॒ज्ञेऽअ॒स्मिन् ॥८४ ॥

▸ Translation: Men of this character and vision, men of similar character and vision, men of comprehensive character and vision, men of equal character and vision for everyone, men of balanced mind and men of definiteness and ascertainment in all matters — these are the Maruts among humanity who may, to-day, come and join this yajna of ours.

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【 Verse 17.85 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स्वत॑वाँश्च प्रघा॒सी च॑ सान्तप॒नश्च॑ गृहमे॒धी च॑। क्री॒डी च॑ शा॒की चो॑ज्जे॒षी ॥८५ ॥

▸ Translation: The man inherently valiant and firmly rooted, who maintains good health with nourishments, who endures and gives a hot pursuit to the enemy, who is dedicated to the home, who loves sports, is powerful, and who is ambitious to win, such a man is Marut, a live wire. May the Maruts join our yajna.

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【 Verse 17.86 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इन्द्रं॒ दैवी॒र्विशो॑ म॒रुतोऽनु॑वर्त्मानोऽभव॒न् यथेन्द्रं॒ दैवी॒र्विशो॑ म॒रुतोऽनु॑वर्त्मा॒नोऽभ॑वन्। ए॒वमि॒मं यज॑मानं॒ दैवी॑श्च॒ विशो॑ मानु॒षीश्चानु॑वर्त्मानो भवन्तु ॥८६ ॥

▸ Translation: The noble scholars of virtue and wisdom, the distinguished citizens and the smartest warriors should follow Indra, in the manner in which all noble scholars, noble citizens and smart warriors ought to follow Indra, the ruler of the land. All the noble scholars, noble citizens and the smartest warriors should follow Indra, the ruler of the universe. Similarly all the noble scholars, distinguished citizens and the average people should follow this yajamana. (The ruler too should act and behave in a noble manner so that all the noble scholars, distinguished citizens and the average people follow him spontaneously and faithfully.)

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【 Verse 17.87 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒मꣳ स्तन॒मूर्ज॑स्वन्तं धया॒पां प्रपी॑नमग्ने सरि॒रस्य॒ मध्ये॑। उत्सं॑ जुषस्व॒ मधु॑मन्तमर्वन्त्समु॒द्रिय॒ꣳ सद॑न॒मावि॑शस्व ॥८७ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, lord of light and power, in the midst of this world, drink of this nature’s motherly breast of energy replete with the nectar of life. Foremost among the fastest heroes, drink deep at this fountain head of honey sweets. Enter this oceanic house of yajna, (expand and go round the world).

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【 Verse 17.88 】

▸ Veda Mantra: घृ॒तं मि॑मिक्षे घृ॒तम॑स्य॒ योनि॑र्घृ॒ते श्रि॒तो घृ॒तम्व॑स्य॒ धाम॑। अ॒नु॒ष्व॒धमाव॑ह मा॒दय॑स्व॒ स्वाहा॑कृतं वृषभ वक्षि ह॒व्यम् ॥८८ ॥

▸ Translation: I wish to mix and go deep into water/ghee for offering it into the fire. Fire arises from water/ghee, which is its birth-place. It is latent in water/ghee. Water/ ghee is its place of rest. Prepare the materials for the libation and call up Agni. Generous power of rain shower, prepare the materials for the offering and make us all rejoice. (The indication is to prepare the waters and produce fire/energy from this rich source.)

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【 Verse 17.89 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स॒मु॒द्रादू॒र्मिर्मधु॑माँ॒२ऽउदा॑र॒दुपा॒शुना॒ सम॑मृत॒त्वमा॑नट्। घृ॒तस्य॒ नाम॒ गुह्यं॒ यदस्ति॑ जि॒ह्वा दे॒वाना॑म॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभिः॑ ॥८९ ॥

▸ Translation: Honey waves of energy arise from the sea/vedi and, mixing with the rays of the sun, ascend to a state of divine vitality. These rising waves are tongues of the gods (divine powers of nature), and the central birthplace of nectar. These are the mystical names of the mysterious but still scientific powers of ghrta/the sea through the process of yajna.

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【 Verse 17.90 】

▸ Veda Mantra: व॒यं नाम॒ प्रं ब्र॑वामा घृ॒तस्या॒स्मिन् य॒ज्ञे धा॑रयामा॒ नमो॑भिः। उप॑ ब्रह्मा॒ शृ॑णवच्छ॒स्यमा॑नं॒ चतुः॑शृङ्गोऽवमीद् गौ॒रऽए॒तत् ॥९० ॥

▸ Translation: In this yajna we chant and meditate upon the mystical name of ‘yajna’, of ghee, waters and the spirit of fertility, and with all reverence, salutations, faith and holy offerings, observe, perform and internalize yajna as name and as the creative act that it is. May Brahma, the presiding priest, man of the Vedas and generous teacher, hear the celebrated name and expound its meaning and value to others.

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【 Verse 17.91 】

▸ Veda Mantra: च॒त्वारि॒ शृङ्गा॒ त्रयो॑ऽअस्य॒ पादा॒ द्वे शी॒र्षे स॒प्त हस्ता॑सोऽअस्य। त्रिधा॑ ब॒द्धो वृ॑ष॒भो रो॑रवीति म॒हो दे॒वो मर्त्याँ॒ २ऽआवि॑वेश ॥९१ ॥

▸ Translation: (i). Yajna is a purusha, a living person, a metaphor. Just as a person is a living human being, and he/she has a name which is identical with the person, so is yajna, a living act and a name, and the name-word is identical with the act. (1) This person, the living act of yajna, has four heads, the four Vedas. It has three legs/sessions: morning, mid-day and evening. It has two heads, the prayaniya ceremony (inauguration), and the udayaniya ceremony (valediction or conclusion). It has seven arms in the form of seven chhandas, gayatri and other metres. It is tied three-ways, structured in three parts: Mantra, the original vedic texts, Brahmana, expositions containing rules and explanations, and kalpa, rules of ritual performance. It is Vrishabha, that which showers joy and prosperity. It roars with the voice of the Vedas. It is great, it is brilliant and divine, and it is seated in the deepest layers of the human mind. (ii). Now the name ‘Yajna’, the word in language: It has four heads: Nama, nouns or substantives, Akhyata, the roots and verbs, Upasarga, the affixes, and Nipata, particles, indeclinables and irregulars. It has three legs: past, present and future tenses. It has two heads: the eternal Word and the structured words of language in use, and the word and its meaning (signification). It has seven arms: the seven cases and case endings or case forms. It is tied three ways: in the mind/intellect, in the chest, and in the throat/mouth. It is a Vrishabha, it showers the thoughts and emotions in communication, and it roars through the medium of sound. It is great, it is rich and brilliant and it is seated in the deepest layers of the human mind. (This mantra gives a comprehensive abstract of the linguistic structure of any language, and on the basis of this abstract a universal grammar of human language, any form of it, can be written.)

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【 Verse 17.92 】

▸ Veda Mantra: त्रिधा॑ हि॒तं प॒णिभि॑र्गु॒ह्यमा॑नं॒ गवि॑ दे॒वासो॑ घृ॒तमन्व॑विन्दन्। इन्द्र॒ऽएक॒ꣳ सूर्य॒ऽएक॑ञ्जजान वे॒नादेक॑ꣳस्व॒धया॒ निष्ट॑तक्षुः ॥९२ ॥

▸ Translation: The mystique of yajna/ghee/waters, three-way hidden and three-way studied in quietude by knowledgeable people, the visionaries sought and found it in the cow, the Veda and nature. One was found and revealed by Indra, specialist of electric energy, one by the specialist of solar energy, and one was received from the scholars of the Vedas and enacted with oblations by the devotees of yajna.

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【 Verse 17.93 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ए॒ताऽअ॑र्षन्ति॒ हृद्या॑त् समु॒द्राच्छ॒तव्र॑जा रि॒पुणा॒ नाव॒चक्षे॑। घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ऽअ॒भि चा॑कशीमि हिर॒ण्ययो॑ वेत॒सो मध्य॑ऽआसाम् ॥९३ ॥

▸ Translation: These waves of cosmic energy, these vibrations of the cosmic boom of the Word, issue from the oceanic depths of the Eternal Mind. In countless streams they flow all round, not even an enemy can deny them. And I, a soul wrapped in golden hue, stand in the midst of these waves like a reed and feel the power and the beatitude blowing through me.

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【 Verse 17.94 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स॒म्यक् स्र॑वन्ति स॒रितो॒ न धेना॑ऽअ॒न्तर्हृ॒दा मन॑सा पू॒यमा॑नाः। ए॒तेऽअ॑र्षन्त्यू॒र्मयो॑ घृ॒तस्य॑ मृ॒गाऽइ॑व क्षिप॒णोरीष॑माणाः ॥९४ ॥

▸ Translation: These waves of divine energy, vibrations of the divine voice issue forth from yajna and, purified by the mind in faith, flow serene and quiet like streams through the heart within, away from the fluctuations of the outer world, as deer fly away from the fear of a tiger/hunter.

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【 Verse 17.95 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सिन्धो॑रिव प्राध्व॒ने शू॑घ॒नासो॒ वात॑प्रमियः पतयन्ति य॒ह्वाः। घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ऽअरु॒षो न वा॒जी काष्ठा॑ भि॒न्दन्नू॒र्मिभिः॒ पिन्व॑मानः ॥९५ ॥

▸ Translation: The mighty streams of ghrita, waves of cosmic energy and vibrations of yajnic voice, issue forth (from the divine) and flow incessantly (into the universe) as the turbulent streams of a river blown upon by the wind hasten through their course and fall into the sea, or, as a fearless troop of horse breaking through the enemy defences goes forth to victory winning over the field with the speed of its motion in the heat of action.

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【 Verse 17.96 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒भिप्र॑वन्त॒ सम॑नेव॒ योषाः॑ कल्या॒ण्यः᳕ स्मय॑मानासोऽअ॒ग्निम्। घृ॒तस्य॒ धाराः॑ स॒मिधो॑ नसन्त॒ ता जु॑षा॒णो ह॑र्यति जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥९६ ॥

▸ Translation: Just like young women of equal mind and pleasing, noble and generous, smiling in festive mood, the streams of ghrita (ghee) flow from all round and join Agni to feed the holy fuel. And Agni, pleased with the offering, blazes with heat and light. So do the waves of energy and the vibrations of the divine voice of yajna meet the dedicated man who happily receives them and shines with the light of knowledge.

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【 Verse 17.97 】

▸ Veda Mantra: क॒न्या᳖ऽइव वह॒तुमेत॒वा उ॑ऽअ॒ञ्ज्य᳖ञ्जा॒नाऽअ॒भि चा॑कशीमि। यत्र॒ सोमः॑ सू॒यते॒ यत्र॑ य॒ज्ञो घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॑ऽअ॒भि तत्प॑वन्ते ॥९७ ॥

▸ Translation: Just as a lovely maiden dressed in luxurious finery at her wedding goes to meet her groom, so do the streams of ghrita flow from all sides to meet Agni where yajna is performed and soma is generated for the light and energy of life. I perceive the flow of light and energy and I feel blest.

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【 Verse 17.98 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒भ्य᳖र्षत सुष्टु॒तिं गव्य॑मा॒जिम॒स्मासु॑ भ॒द्रा द्रवि॑णानि धत्त। इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं न॑यत दे॒वता॑ नो घृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॒ मधु॑मत्पवन्ते ॥९८ ॥

▸ Translation: Powers of Divinity, bless us with creditable praise, plenty of food and drink and knowledge, and victory in the battles of life. Bless us with auspicious and excellent wealths of the world. Carry this yajna of ours to a noble finale. Let the honey streams of ghrita flow to Agni in our homes.

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【 Verse 17.99 】

▸ Veda Mantra: धाम॑न्ते॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑न॒मधि॑ श्रि॒तम॒न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे हृ॒द्य᳕न्तरायु॑षि। अ॒पामनी॑के समि॒थे यऽआभृ॑त॒स्तम॑श्याम॒ मधु॑मन्तं तऽऊ॒र्मिम् ॥९९ ॥

▸ Translation: Yajna Purusha, Agni, Lord of the universe, in your domain, under your law and power rests the entire world of existence. In this domain, whatever is contained in the oceans of space, in the splendour of the skies, in the heart, in life, in yajna, to that we may attain. May we have the taste of the honey-sweets of that cosmic yajna, may we have the feel of that universal energy.